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Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs

News Releases

VA Announces New Grants to Help End Veteran Homelessness - Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald today announced the award of nearly $93 million in Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) 3-year grants that will help approximately 45,000 homeless and at-risk Veterans and their families. The grants will be distributed to 24 non-profit agencies in 15 communities, with $30 million in awards being distributed to the Los Angeles area.
(3/31/15)

Hundreds of Disabled Veterans to Attend Winter Sports Clinic - More than 300 disabled Veterans are hitting the slopes this week at the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass Village, Colorado. The Clinic, sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs and Disabled American Veterans, is the largest adaptive event of its kind in the world and will take place from March 29 through April 3. (3/27/15)

Requirement of Standardized Claim, Appeal Forms - With the goal of making the application process easier and more efficient for our Veterans, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) now requires Veterans seeking disability benefits to use standardized claim and appeal forms. These standardized forms guide Veterans to clearly state the symptoms or conditions for which they are seeking benefits and provide the information necessary for VA to start processing their claims and appeals. (3/25/15)

VA Works to Expand Choice Program Eligibility - In order to expand eligibility for the Veterans Choice Program, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today announced that it will change the calculation used to determine the distance between a Veteran’s residence and the nearest VA medical facility from a straight line distance to driving distance. The policy change will be made through regulatory action in the coming weeks. The Veterans Choice Program was authorized by the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (VACAA). (3/24/15)

Groundbreaking Device Being Tested By VA May Put End to Pressure Ulcers - Pressure ulcers (commonly known as bed sores) are one of the most troublesome and painful complications for patients during a long hospital stay, but a joint project between the Department of Veterans Affairs Center for Innovation and General Electric Global Research may one day make pressure ulcers a thing of the past. (3/19/15)

Applications Accepted for 2015 National Veterans Golden Age Games - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is currently accepting applications from Veterans interested in competing in the 2015 National Veterans Golden Age Games. Applications can be completed online at www.veteransgoldenagegames.va.gov, and will be accepted through May 15. Veterans ages 55 and older who are enrolled for VA care are eligible to participate. (3/18/15)

VA Establishes MyVA Advisory Committee - The Department of Veterans Affairs today announced the establishment of the MyVA Advisory Committee. The Committee brings together skilled experts from the private, non-profit and government sectors to assist in reorienting the Department to better meet the needs of Veterans. This Committee is charged with advising the Secretary of Veterans Affairs with a focus on improving customer service, Veteran outcomes and setting the course for long-term reform and excellence. (3/13/15)

VA Accelerates Deployment of Nationwide Opioid Therapy Tool - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is accelerating the deployment of a state-of-the-art tool to help protect Veteran patients using high doses of opioids or with medical risk factors that put them at an increased risk of complications from opioid medications. (3/9/15)

VA and Community Partners Release West Los Angeles Homeless Plan - On January 28, 2015, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert A. McDonald and attorneys representing homeless veterans in Los Angeles announced a historic agreement that dedicates the West Los Angeles VA campus to serving veterans in need. The agreement is an important step forward in carrying out President Obama’s commitment that no veteran should live on the streets, or forego available medical and psychological services. (2/13/15)